To the par-three 17th we go...

Chris Gotterup bails out to the right of the green and Rory McIlroy finds the putting surface.

He simply has to hole that.

Richard Winton
BBC Scotland at The Renaissance Club

A few words from Nicolai Hojaard, who reminds us he also snatched an Open place at the last in 2023.

"I knew what was on the line and I kind of knew my game was in a good place," he said after claiming one of the three available spots in next week's event.

"Portrush is a nice place. I played there in 2018 in the Boys' Amateur. I might not sound like it but I'm really excited just to play another major."

Here goes Penge from distance on the 17th. It looks good...

But not good enough! It's within an inch! Brutal luck, and that is probably that after Chris Gotterup's birdie.

Can he do something magical on the 18th? We've seen it before.

Meanwhile, Matt Fitzpatrick's birdie putt ends up just wide.

Rory McIlroy's long eagle putt from the fringe races past the hole, while Chris Gotterup ends up in pretty much the same spot...

McIlroy pushes his putt and makes par once again, but Chris Gotterup gets a read and drains his birdie putt.

The lead is back to two.

On the par-three 17th, Marco Penge flights one right over the top of the flag stick. It's almost beyond the green. His power game working against him there. At least the line was right...

Matt Fitzpatrick judges the power better and it bounces by the hole, rolling a few yards on.

Rory McIlroy and Chris Gotterup both hack out of the rough and scamper down to the right-hand side of the green.

It's a battle of their respective short games now.

Matt Fitzpatrick up first, a lot of work to do from 56 feet. It's not a bad effort, it's not bad at all... just wide. Par most likely saved.

Here's Marco Penge to tie with the leader. He got a good look at it, thanks to Jake Knapp's effort.

From a few feet... it just doesn't turn! A big miss, and perhaps the chance is gone.

The wind has certainly picked up now and the clouds rolling in only add to the atmosphere and tension.

Chris Gotterup sprays his drive at 16 into the fans down the right side, as does Rory McIlroy.

I think they have both got a bit lucky and pulled favourable lies.

Richard Winton
BBC Scotland at The Renaissance Club

That's Nicolai Hojgaard's week's work done and one of the three places available for The Open secured.

A seven-birdie 64 leaves the Dane 12 under for the tournament and currently in a tie for fourth.

Image source, Getty Images

Matt Fitzpatrick and Marco Penge have struggled off the tee here at 16. Both have gone way right.

They manage to duff it a little further up the right hand side but they remain in the rough.

Fitzpatrick is the first to aim for the green, but his ball takes a horrible kick and bounces way right. He's got a lot of work to do for par.

Penge is closer to the flag, and he chips it down the bank, rolling just past the hole. Birdie is on here.

Nico Echavarria finished five under for the tournament, with this the undoubted highlight of his campaign.

Richard Winton
BBC Scotland at The Renaissance Club

That's now seven consecutive pars for Rory McIlroy. Admirably consistent but not what he needs right now.

Rory McIlroy, to move level with Chris Gotterup... it looks good for a long way, but finishes just short of the hole.

Still, the Northern Irishman is back within one of the lead.

Chris Gotterup's chip from off the back of the green runs way past the hole...

And his par putt is a few inches out - a dropped shot for the leader.

Is this the moment the tournament takes a turn?

With wind into his face, Chris Gotterup takes far too much club and flies well over the back of the green with his approach shot at 15.

Can Rory McIlroy stick one close?

It's not gimme range, but he's given himself a look...

Nicolai Hojgaard is on the 18th, a little to the right of the fairway but avoiding any fescue.

About 30 feet for birdie to get to 13 under, but it's asking a lot. Either way, he's almost certainly qualified for next week's Open at Royal Portrush.

Richard Winton
BBC Scotland at The Renaissance Club

Putts are not dropping for Rory McIlroy today, but he's been errant from the tee, too. He's hit only five of the 11 fairways so far, most recently at the 15th.

He hasn't gone away all day and now he's tied second with Rory McIlroy.

His drive into the wind at 15 was superb, avoiding all the bunkers on the right, and his approach was even better. Three feet for birdie.

And it's a smooth putt, straight in. We have another contender, alright.

Richard Winton
BBC Scotland at The Renaissance Club

Image source, PA Media

Chris Gotterup has only dropped five shots in his first 68 holes. The chasing pack need him to falter over his final five, it seems, but the American shows no signs of crumbling under the pressure.

Rory McIlroy's putt doesn't turn as he wants it to, but Chris Gotterup also drags his wide of the mark.

A missed chance for the leader? Will he come to regret it?